Monteverdi Vespers

Whitehall Choir

Monteverdi’s Vespro della Beata Vergine or Vespers for the Blessed Virgin was published in 1610 for feast days of the Virgin Mary. It was written in the composer’s role as Maestro della Musica at the court of the Gonzaga dukes of Mantua but this large-scale publication may have also been a calling card to try to secure a better position! Monteverdi skilfully demonstrates both the old religious style of writing as well as the more florid operatic style that was just emerging, with a thrilling combination of solo, choral and instrumental forces.